City Gets List Of Conservation Ideas

WINTER PARK — The city's Historic Preservation Commission was given a series of ideas Tuesday for maintaining the city's heritage in the approximately 500 buildings constructed before 1930.

The report by Phil Werndli and Gladys Cook of Florida Preservation Services is a preliminary draft and corrections will be made and more material added within the next month.

In addition to listing areas with a concentration of historic or architecturally significant buildings and styles, the report tries to define the particular qualities that give Winter Park its special ambiance.

''The historic fabric of Winter Park is more than just the buildings. If you don't have the trees that are 70 years old, the brick streets that are 60 years old, the open spaces of parks dedicated in the 1920s or late 1800s, you don't have Winter Park regardless of the buildings. They are trying to point out there is more to it,'' said city planner Jeff Briggs.

As a result of that thinking, the consultants have recommended the city commission consider preserving elements such as open spaces, lakes and lakeshores, brick streets and trees.

''I guess some people out there will read the report and say, 'What is this dumb board talking about streets, trees and lakes for? We have boards who deal with that.' But the message is if we want to preserve our heritage it involves more than preserving buildings,'' Briggs said.

The report suggests the city formalize its tree plan so residents can obtain information about planting trees ''that continue to enhance the historic fabric of the city.''

In a slide presentation before the commission Tuesday, Werndli showed several examples of how an extensive tree canopy along streets creates a special atmosphere.

Werndli said the city's lakes have played a large role in the way the community developed and the city's Lakes Advisory Board should be given an inventory of historic resources along the lakes.

Maintenance of the city's open spaces should also be a priority and policies developed concerning future improvements in Central Park and protection of the golf course. Also, roadways into the downtown should be studied for possible improvements ''as focal points of the community.''

The consultants endorsed the city's policy of maintaining brick streets and uncovering those that have been paved with asphalt. They also suggested that Winter Park assist any private efforts to remove asphalt from brick streets and utility companies should be urged to begin a program of burying power lines. Also, the city should consider styles that are harmonious with the historic character of an area when installing new streetlights, bridges or street furniture.

The consultants also have looked at the comprehensive plan, zoning code and building code with changes in mind. For example, the zoning code should have language encouraging or providing for the preservation and rehabilitation of historic resources, they said.

But, the specifics of changes are still to be hammered out by the commission.

''I think they the commission appear to be shying away from doing what a lot of other cities have done, which is going in and creating historic districts,'' Briggs said.

Briggs said there are several reasons for the commission's attitude, a primary one being public relations.

''A lot of people hear 'historic district' and the first thing they think is the city is going to tell them how to fix up their house and that is not the intention of this group. On the other hand, we have some truly landmark structures in the city that may not be imminently threatened with demolition or renovation that would change their character, but there's a feeling we ought to have something to address those situations,'' Briggs said.

Of the approximately 500 buildings built before 1930 it is possible about 100 of those may deserve status as historic landmarks, Briggs said.

Other structures built after 1930 also may be designated as landmarks. For example, the work done by local architect James Gamble Rogers from the 1930s through today was considered.

''He is a master in the development of rustic-looking Tudor Revivals and Colonial Revival architecture on large estates . . . They are some of the best architecture found in Winter Park from that period and should be considered important architectural landmarks,'' the consultants said.

Briggs said there are a few things left for the consultants and commission to do before formulating an amendment to the city's comprehensive plan.

The consultants draft of the city's history has to be shortened and corrections made; information on the 500 sites reviewed and corrected to include in the final report on the city's historic assets; recommendations finalized; and the comprehensive plan amendment compiled.

The commission has scheduled another meeting Sept. 30 on those issues.